My baby’s home, Sick

After an well-intended attempt at sleeping over at a friend’s home, my ten-year old daughter phoned at 11 pm on Saturday (I was in bed but not yet asleep) for me to come get her. I put a coat over my jammies and jumped into Bob’s car.

As soon as I saw her, just 5 hours since I’d dropped her off, I knew something nasty was brewing; her cheeks were flushed and her nose was red. I figured she was reacting to dust and got her home (you CAN speed in a Prius, just in case anyone is interested) and in bed as soon as I could.

The next day she was snotty and barking like a wee harbor seal, and I decided she would miss her first day of school of the year today and hole up on the couch. I racked my brain for ways that could have me on the couch right next to her, but alas, I had to leave my young snotfactory to fend for herself for the 4 hour-class I taught this morning. My Monekyface was a true spectacle of misery when I stood in the kitchen, gathering my things; she was curled up on one of the kitchen chairs, had a fist full of tissues and was communing with the steam from the mug of hot Gypsy Cold Care tea in front of her. She had her favorite blanket, her stack of Tamora Pierce books and the portable phone waiting for her on the brown leather sofa and I left before I could say something like, “I wish I could stay home with you, honey.” That statement, while true, would usher in needless and a repeat discussion of how I wish I could stay home and no, really, there was no one I could call to sub because these students were two weeks from their final and really, really needed the review I had planned for them. The mini-mope was short lived and with a hoarse, “I love you, Mummy,” from her, I left.

May I just state, unequivocally, that I hate leaving sick kids (in this case, minor fever, sore throat, cough, drippy, sneezy nose) home alone; however, she is a mature, responsible and capable child and I knew she’d be fine. I just felt it was my duty to mother her properly while she was home sick and although I love teaching this bunch, I was very aware of my baby at home. The class runs from 8:40 until 1, but after giving a ton of homework, grammar-practice website links and instructions to discover what issues they wanted me to review for them for their exam, I let them out at noon. I live a mere 13 minutes away from the community college, so I was soon back in my tiny little NE town.

Then I picked up extra Kleenex, bought some chicken soup, and came home to get onto the couch with my sniffly Monkey.

I figure I have about a week before I get sick.